Like Smash Bros., the gameplay is deceptively simple with buttons for jumping, attacks, specials and grabs. The shoulder buttons are used to block. To eliminate rivals, players will have to pound on them, raising the percentage of damage until they can be knocked off the platform. Of course, Punch Time Explosion isn’t a complete carbon copy. It does have a few gameplay tweaks, one of which is a super move that’s activated by pressing part of the touchscreen.

Otherwise, the game is similar to Smash Bros. right down to the items players pick up. There’s even four-player local support for when you have four Nintendo 3DS machines together. The game does have download play so that you don’t have to buy four cartidges in all.

If fighting against other human players isn’t your cup of tea, Punch Time Explosion also offers a single-player adventure campaign. It plays like a platformer crossed with a beat-em up. Players choose four characters and they go through levels using their distinct powers. The developer, Papaya Studios, also added simple puzzles that take advantage of the system. For example, players can raise a platform on a pirate ship by blowing into the system’s microphone. It seems like a decent mode to keep fans busy when they’re not fighting players over Wi-Fi. Punch Time Explosion is set for release in May.